Our property, Wendt Ranch is located seven miles east of Bay City, Texas. The ranch is roughly 2,500ac and we run 700 head of Santa Gertrudis cattle. Santa Gertrudis cattle are approximately five-eighths Shorthorn and three-eighths Brahman.

Hurricane Harvey, a category four hurricane, hit the US last Friday. Nine trillion gallons of rain have fallen on the Gulf Coast.

We had over 25in of rain on Monday morning. We are no longer checking the rain gauge, it has been storming all day today.

The river in our county is supposed to put up to 10ft of water into the downtown area. Things aren’t looking good, but we’ve done everything possible for the worst-case scenario, whatever that may be.

All our cattle and horses have been moved to the highest ground possible. We moved them using the tractor. The water was up to their bellies and they had to swim in places.

Now we just have to wait it out and see.

We’re not sure how our neighbours are doing because everyone is working to try and get their animals and property ready for the worst, which is still yet to come.

The ranch is roughly 15 miles from the river and, so far, all the animals are safe on higher ground.

The front entrance to the ranch has collapsed and the only way in and out is in a tractor. We are most concerned with human and animal life right now, material things can be replaced.

So far there is no water in my parents Gene and Nancy’s house but water got in my grandparents’ house yesterday morning. If it keeps raining, my parents’ house will most likely get water in it.

There are landowners and other ranchers that are in worse shape than us and our prayers and thoughts are with them as they can’t even check on their animals because they can’t get there because of the water.

My parents are staying at the ranch with my grandfather, Dan Wendt, who originally founded the ranch.

They are most likely in for a rough and uncomfortable week, but they will be safe and have taken all precautionary measures to ensure this.

The fate of Bay City is currently unknown and we’re praying that the computer models are wrong. The next 24 to 48 hours will tell us a lot as this unfolds.

This event may devastate our town, but it will not end it. Matagorda county will come back, no matter what.

We are staging boats just outside the county line and will be ready to return as soon as possible to help aid anyone needing help.

I have moved to Cypress, in neighbouring Harris County, with my wife, Lauren, and the kids. We are monitoring the situation very closely.

As soon as possible, I’ll be rolling south with any supplies I can fit in my truck to begin rendering aid wherever it is needed.

I can’t thank everyone enough from all over the state and country that have been calling and messaging asking what they can do to help. From equipment, to land, to hay and everything in between, it’s all been offered.

I’m not sure how the next five to seven days will unfold, but we are going to continue to pull together as a community, county, state and country. That is how we’ll get through this.